Woman, 27, Arrested After 2-Year-Old Girl Is Found Stowed Inside Suitcase in Bus Luggage Compartment

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2 days ago

A bus driver in New Zealand "became concerned when he noticed the bag moving" on Sunday, Aug. 3, according to local authoritiesNEED TO KNOW
A 27-year-old woman in New Zealand has been arrested after a 2-year-old girl was discovered hidden in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment
"The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving," New Zealand Police said in a statement
The bus had been traveling from Whangārei in the central region of New Zealand's North Island to AucklandA 27-year-old woman in New Zealand has been arrested after a 2-year-old girl was found in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment.
On Sunday, Aug. 3, at 12:50 p.m. local time, New Zealand Police were called "after a passenger asked for access to the luggage compartment during a planned stop in Kaiwaka," per a release about the incident on the North Island of New Zealand.
"The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving. When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl," the statement added, citing Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, of Waitematā's Criminal Investigation Branch.
A woman, who hasn't been named by authorities, has since been arrested and charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child, per the release, and is scheduled to appear in Auckland's North Shore District Court on Monday, Aug. 4.
"The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed," Harrison said in the release. "She was transported to the hospital, where she remains, undergoing an extensive medical assessment."
The InterCity bus had been traveling from Whangārei in the central region of the North Island to Auckland, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) noted.
The outlet stated that the child had been in the suitcase for nearly an hour, wearing only a diaper.
Harrison said that police "would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn't right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome," per the release.
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"Police enquiries into this incident are ongoing, and further charges cannot be ruled out. Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) has also been notified," the post stated.
Per a further police update, Harrison confirmed the toddler was "medically well."
"We are working with whānau (family) and our partner agencies to ensure the child is cared for," he added, according to the latest release.
'We appreciate that there is high public interest with what has happened," Harrison said
'However, given the circumstances concerning the child, and the matter being before the Court, we are unable to provide further comment," he added, per the release.
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'Our focus is on ensuring the child is well-supported and we are working with Oranga Tamariki in relation to this matter."
New Zealand Police didn't have any additional information to add when contacted by PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 4. PEOPLE has also reached out to Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) and InterCity for comment, but didn't get an immediate response.
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